Abstract

Yield Potential and Stability of Irrigated Spring Bread Wheat Genotypes in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Author(s): Mihratu Amanuel Kitil, Tadiyos Bayisa Sarbessa, Hailu Mengistu Biru, Ambesu Tiliye and Desta Gebre Banje

The available potential resources under arid and semi-arid lowland irrigated areas of the Ethiopia could be more exploited by irrigated wheat technology generation on progresses and production to fill the gap of national wheat demand. Bread whet genotypes evaluated in different locations of Amibara district in Afar Region and Fentale district of Oromia Region for three consecutive years 2015/16-2017/18 were considered in study. The 25 bread wheat genotypes were evaluated in triple lattice with three replications on 9m2 plot area. The study were targeted to identify and select high yielding potential and stable candidate varieties for release and also further breeding purposes. The analysis of variances of bread wheat genotypes evaluated revealed highly significant difference (P≤0.01) among genotypes for all traits and the genotypes by environment interactions. The overall mean performance of genotypes evaluated across different environments the two genotypes (HEILO//MILAN/MUNIA/3/KIRITATI/2*TRCH) 3877 kg/ha and (MUU/FRNC LN//FRANCO LIN #1) with 3655 kg/ha were better out yielded with 12% and 5% than check respectively. The third promising genotype (GLADIUS/2* BAVIS) is most stable genotype and it is better in early maturing (12%), 2nd best plant height (13%) next to MUU/FRNCLN// FRANCOLIN #1, and it has the maximum thousand kernel weight (8%) and related quality traits comparing to check. The out yielded genotypes and performed well in their important traits were selected as candidate varieties and submitted for variety releasing committee and out of which the HEILO//MILAN/MUNIA/3/KIRITATI/2*TRCH and GLADIUS/2*BAVIS were officially released. Therefore from the current results it has been observed better yield potential than the check variety and showing stability among the studied genotypes and this could be exploited in future large scale seed production and breeding purposes.